Zeke Lau Wins the Vans World Cup Of Surfing

Ezekiel Lau just won the 2013 Vans World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach. The Hawaiian who you should definitely be aware of had a steam on from day one, which really means something in a non-World Tour event because goddamn it are these events competitive. Zeke started from round one with 127 other men (no seeding) and battled through scrappy four-man heats to the final, where he took on Damo Hobgood (needing enough points to requalify), Raoni Monteiro (needing cash to fund a 2014 WT campaign) and Frederico Morais (just happy to be there).

Raoni led from early on, but Zeke scratched into the heat’s biggest wave at the halfway mark, planted a charged frontside wrap, snapped under the lip for a cover-up, and finished with two snaps. Then it was on. Zeke’s next wave was barrel-of-the-day and the heat’s highest scoring wave. No one could catch him, and that was it. What followed was perhaps the most passionate celebrations y’ever did see. Why can’t everyone be that thrilled with a win?

“I don’t even know what to say right now,” said Zeke. “That’s the first final I’ve made all year, so I was already happy with that. And to come out with a win, it feels great.”

*Two highlights from previous days, just in case you didn’t see them for some weird reason: Black Friday was big and perfect, and the most important thing that happened was South African Beyrick De Vries belting through what everybody’s calling the best barrel ever ridden at Sunset, giving a subtle but heartfelt claim, then dropping his wallet on the inside bowl to seal 10 points. Also worth remembering was when yesterday, with 30 seconds remaining and Kelly Slater needing to hold off Heitor Alves’ advances, KS went left and absolutely backdoored a left for a 9.87. Ain’t nobody else doing it like that at Sunset.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing now rolls into the Billabong Pipeline Masters, where Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater will battle to seal a world title. The coming week until Pipe starts might feel like the longest of the year.

Highlights and all that other good stuff, right over here.

RESULTS:

Final
1st – Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 15.50 – $40,000
2nd – Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.30 – $20,000
3rd – Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 12.33 – $12,000
4th – Frederico Morais (PRT) 7.16 – $10,000

Semi Finals
H1: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 15.6, Frederico Morais (PRT) 14.44, John John Florence (HAW) 13.34, Adam Melling (AUS) 10.97
H2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.77, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 13.93, Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.36, Tim Reyes (USA) 9.83

Quarter Finals
H1: Frederico Morais (PRT) 15.20, John John Florence (HAW) 13.76, Ian Gentil 12.83, Carlos Munoz (CRI) 11.60
H2: Adam Melling (AUS) 14.66, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 13.50, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 6.60, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 4.47
H3: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.37, Tim Reyes (USA) 11.94, Wade Carmichael (AUS) 11.67, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.10
H4: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.70, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 15.46, Olomana Eleogram (HAW) 14.57, Kiron Jabour (HAW) 10.10

Round of 32
H1: Ian Gentil (HAW) 13.17, Adam Melling (AUS) 13.17, Jay Thompson 11.37, Hank Gaskell (HAW) 10.40
H2: Carlos Munoz (CRI) 15.00, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 14.70, Ian Walsh (HAW) 7.24, Makuakai Rothman 7.23
H3: Raoni Monteriro (BRA) 15.73, Fredrico Morais (PRT) 9.62, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 9.60, Kalani Chapman (HAW) 6.30
H4: Bede Durbridge (AUS) 15.33, John John Florence (HAW) 10.93, Gavin Gillette (HAW) 10.20, Caio Ibelli (BRA) 9.67
H5: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 16.10, Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 10.47, Torrey Meister (HAW) 10.34, Kelly Slater (USA) 7.80
H6: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 17.00, Kiron Jabour (HAW) 13.17, Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 7.40, Dane Reynolds (USA) 6.75
H7: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.26, Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.74, Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 12.10, Ricardo Christie (NZL) 9.83
H8: Eleogram Olamana (HAW) 16.34, Tim Reyes (USA) 12.64, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.16, Joel Centeio (HAW) 11.96